Ob/Gyn resident self-perceived preparedness for minimally invasive surgery

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
• Surgical Education
• Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Training

Background:

• Limited data exists on U.S. Ob/Gyn residents' preparedness for minimally invasive surgery.
• Assessing resident readiness is crucial for surgical competency and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate senior Ob/Gyn residents' self-perceived readiness for complex minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.
• To understand residents' perceptions of the minimally invasive gynecologic surgery subspecialty.

Main Methods:

• A national survey study was conducted among 3rd and 4th-year Ob/Gyn residents.
• A 58-item survey was distributed to assess surgical preparedness and perceptions.

Main Results:

• 158 residents responded; 71.5% felt adequately prepared by residency.
• Training with minimally invasive gynecologic surgery fellowship graduates correlated with higher preparedness.
• Confidence decreased with complexity: 50% for laparoscopic hysterectomy (large uterus), 17% for laparoscopic myomectomy.

Conclusions:

• Most senior Ob/Gyn residents perceive themselves as prepared for complex minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.
• Surgical confidence significantly declines with increased procedure complexity, highlighting training gaps.